Bar mitzvah

Bar Mitzvah is a religious ceremony of Judaism . It marks the religious majority (13 years) of the young Jewish boy. It allows him to join a group of 10 men who celebrate the weekly collective service. Bar Mitzvah was not practiced in antiquity , it appears in the Middle Ages .

Bar means son and Mitzvah means good behavior / command . While doing his Bar Mitzvah, the young boy affirms that he accepts the commandments of God .

Girls have their religious majority at 12 years old. They participate in a ceremony called the Bat Mitzvah.

Conduct of a Bar Mitzvah

The Bar Mitzvah takes place in the week of the religious majority. The young boy wears tefillin on his head (box containing the philactères ) and on the shoulders the talit (prayer shawl).

On the following Monday or Thursday and Saturday ( Shabbat Day ) the boy reads the Torah. He reads the passage corresponding to the week of his religious majority. Reading the Hebrew text aloud with proper intonation is often difficult and usually requires learning.

The Shabbat morning prayer is followed by a snack with friends and family. It begins with the prayer of wine . This is an opportunity for the boy to receive gifts.